All right here it goes! I've been in the Marine Corps reserves for the past 7.5 years as a 1341 Heavy Equipment Mechanic.

As a Lance Corporal, I've...

Never got a Page 11, lest any NJPs or reduction in rank.
Got all the required MCIs completed and maxed out all MCIs that counts for comp score within 1.5 years after being a LCPL, totally 10 MCIs.
Taken courses at my local community college and working towards a general liberal arts degree for transfer.
Never dipped below a 2nd Class PFT/CFT.
Never unq'd on the range (but always a Marksman though).
Been on one deployment, taking part in CJTF-HOA.

I wouldn't say I'm a s***hot Marine, I would also say I'm not a s***bag Marine either. Yet it took me 4.5 years to from the time I hit LCPL to pick up CPL.

As a Corporal, I've...

Never got a Page 11, lest any NJPs.
Done my 8000 series MCIs + 2 more within one year after being a CPL, totally 9 MCIs.
Taking courses at my local community college and working towards a engineering degree for transfer.
Achieved and maintained a 1st Class PFT, and never dipped below a 2nd Class CFT.
Achieved Sharpshooter on the range.
Had the privilege of attending Corporals Course as a residential PME right before it was shut down and converted to a non-residential PME course.

Again, I wouldn't say I'm the model NCO, but I would consider myself as an above-average leader. I'm now Sergeant-Select and will be picking up E5 next week... after two years of being a CPL.

Now I'm kind of asking this on behalf of my fellow CPL. He is a 1345 Heavy Equipment Operator, probably stepped onto the yellow foot prints about a mere 6 months after I did, and was prior active duty. After some time out in the civilian world he wanted to go back active-duty again, but was only given the option of returning as a reservist.

This Marine thus far...

Never got a Page 11, lest any NJPs or reduction in rank.
Neither did his 8000-series or any MCIs at all since he came back in.
Have NOT completed Corporals Course--and consciously avoided attending said PME while he was active duty.
Also taking courses at his local community college and working towards a engineering degree for transfer as well.
3rd Class PFT/CFT.
Sharpshooter on the range.
Been on two deployment--Iraq and Afghanistan.

After just 12 month of coming back into the Marine Corps and into the Reserves, according to the system and his comp score, he's now also Sergeant-Select and will be picking up E5 next week with me... after around 3 years of being a CPL.

Now here's our question. We've hear our senior leadership stress about how important it is to be PME-complete, some even go as far as saying if Corporals Course and the 8000-series are not completed, even if one has attain the score, he shall not pick up the rank of SGT. Just two weeks ago he got an email from our OIC (remember we're reservists, we don't see or talk to our leaders or each other regularly) stating that he wouldn't be eligible to pick up SGT in January 2013 and if he were to have his 8000-series completed by 20 Feb 2013, he would be up for SGT in April 2013. But three days later, both him and me received a letter from our OIC congratulating us on being "selected" for the next rank, which confused my fellow CPL. What's even more confusing is that our OIC implored in the email to have "both" of us get in touch with our unit Career Retention Specialist to start the process of reenlistment and lat-moving. Now the subject of REENLISTMENT and LAT-MOVING is something that the OIC and I have talked about last month, so I know it only applies to me. But at any rate, he just said that he'll bring a pair of SGT chevrons just in case he gets promoted next week.

So this is leads to our question. Is he safe from getting non-rec'd at this point. In other words, can he be non-rec'd just for not completing 8000-series or ANY MCIs in addition to barely passing the PFT/CFT since he came back in? I've known many Marines in our unit who have combinations of low PFT scores, unq'd on the range, no MCI completion, past Page 11's, NJPs, and rank reduction, but yet still picked up rank without any problem. Although it would mention that cutting scores for those Marines are usually around the 1500s, whereas ours hovers around 1700 (except for this quarter where it dropped down to the high 1600s, which is how my fellow CPL "made the cut") Or is he okay now since the system says that he's selected for E5 next week?

This is really not MY problem, as I've done what I'm suppose to do. And I know I should push my junior Marines to strive for the best in order to pick up the next rank. But my concern is that when they see my fellow CPL pick up rank with such shody credential (and believe me, compared to a lot of Marines in our unit, his is not even borderline being the worse!), it kind of undermines EVERYTHING I've taught them. As far as I'm concern, I myself will continue to put myself above my peers in however ways I can. But I just can't shake the feeling that a lot of these REQUIREMENTS we hear from our higher-ups are nothing but bluffs and scare tactics?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Oorah, Semper Fi!

josephd

12-29-12, 12:17 AM

Last I was aware there is no required PME for Sgt. and the 8000 series MCIs are only required for SSgt. not Sgt.

If I am being completely honest though, that 3rd class PFT/CFT is what is pulling him down. A 2nd class PFT and a 2nd class CFT is not hard at all. I don't care how proficient one is at their MOS and what kind of great leader they are, if they don't have the discipline to stay in shape or put out to achieve a higher score(yet still mediocre at best) they don't rate to be leading or setting the example for Marines.

Keep in mind also your/his command can non-rec a Marine for any reason really. If they don't feel that he is what they want in a leadership role, they will do whatever they want to make sure it doesn't happen. If it really is an issue though and they are being "unfair", request mast. That is what it is there for. Requesting mast wont only help him out but it will shed some light on the bigger picture of Marines not getting so called deserved promotions for bogus reasons and your command and higher will know about it.